Guy strand guard and lock



March 28, 1933.

J. BLACKBURN GUY STRAND GUARDAND LOCK Filed March 5, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

' March 28, 1933. J. BLACKBURN GUY STRAND GUARD mp ock Filed March 5,1932 4 She ets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

J A? 22 I ATTORNEY.

Maich 28, 1933.

J. BLACKBURN GUY STRAND GUARD AND LOCK Filed March 3, 1932 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

,March 1933. .1. BLACKBURN l.90 2,945

GUY STRAND GUARD AND LOCK Filed March 3. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 28, 1933 r UNITED STATES JASPER BLAcKBuRN, or WEBSTER enovns, missoum s GUY} s'rimnn GUARD AND LOCK A ncmda filed'March s,

This inventionrelates to guards for guy strands of any kind or nature, but partlcular reference is here had to guy wires or cables as commonly used for sup-porting telephone poles and the like. These wires are usually of relatively small diameter and constitute therefore, if left unguarded, a positive danger'to pedestrians who in their haste might.

overlook the small wires and walk into them. The principal objectof the invention is to provide a relatively simple, strong and practical guard which may be quickly and firmly mounted'in place upon such guy wire and which will be easily seen" and serve to notify and warn pedestrians of the presence of the wire. Another object is to provide a guard of the kind described, comprising in, combination with an elongated member ofthe form of a parted-tube or sleeve adapted for seating over theguy wire, spaced locking members mounted within" the sleeve, the said'locking members being each prowl-dedwith a set of gravity dogs orlugs so arranged that while they will readily permit transverse insertion of the guy wire to a central position within the assembly, they will themthrough the action of gravity, fall into a locking position relative to the said guy Wire, thereby preventing withdrawah Another object is to'provide in a guard of the kind described, various forms ofguy wire locksoperable through gravity, any one of which when seated within a tubular memberv will serve to l ockinglyengage and-hold a guy'wire transversely inserted therein. I

Another object is to provide aform of guy w-irelock including a block suitably formed for mounting within a tubulariguard memthe block as to readily admit thevtransverse insertion ofa guy wire, while preventing the removal thereof after such insertion.

With these and such other objects and advantages in view, :as may be disclosed in the following specification, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings exemplifying 1932. Serial No. 596,459.

' certain preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein: p 7

Flgure 1 is an elevatlon showing an assembly of anchor rod, guy wlre and tubular guard, the guy wire or cable locks which are the principal subject matter of this in vention, being indicated in dotted-lines,as mounted in spaced relation within the Figure 2 is a view similar'to Figure '1, showing a somewhat di-fierentarrangement of the elements and including a cap-lock at the lower end of theassembly.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan" View of the preferred form of tubular wire guard, .showing the longitudinal opening at this side, the saidcab'le or winelocksbeing here also indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is an elevation on-afscale :enlarged to approximate'liie size, of one-form of wire or cable lock, the subject matter of my invention, the tubular guard guy wire beingshown in section, with the guy wire in locked position. i

Figure 5 is a medial longitudinal section throughthe form of wire lock shown in Figure 4, the omitted. 7 4 v p v i Figure 6 is 'alongitudinal-section on the line 6 -6 of the amembly shown in Figure 4, the guy wire lines. a

Figure 7 is a View similar tothat'of Figure Q 4;, there being incorporated in the assembly a; conventional form of stirrup for theylock screw to bear upon. A

Figure Sis a section on the line 88 of I Figure 7. V

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through an assembly of guy wire guard, and a special form or 'lock'designed to act also as a cap at -thelower end of such assembly, the 'said lock being here guard and wire being shown provided with two setszof gravity-lugsof different lengths, the anchorrod itself-"being shown in full lines, a Figure 10 is a section on the line-1-010of eu ,7 Figure 11 is an innerend viewof the form of cap lock shown in Figure l0. i

Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through however being S awn in r1111 fingers are spread asunder.

another'form of guy wire lock, the gravity operated wire engaging pins, lugs or fingers being shown in full lines as extended beneath the guy wire, the latter being shown in section.

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Fig ure 12, the wire engaging lugsor pins being shown'retracted in their sockets and the guy wire being omitted.

Figure 14: is anend view of still another form of gravity'operated cable or guy wire lock, including a sectional View of the wire as held-in locked position.

Figure 15 is a view similar to that of Figure 14, showing the guy wire as in process of entering the lock, whereby the wire engaging Figure 16 is an edge view of of Figure 14. v p 7 p Figure 17 is a detail view showing the addition of a torsional spring in the pivotal mounting of the gravity lugs or fingers as the assembly means assisting gravity or 1n lieu of gravity,

for operating the said lugs.

In combination with a suitable'tubular or sleeve-like guy wire guard 1, formed usually by merely rolling up an elongated strip of sheet metal into the form of a split or parted tube so as to provide the longitudinally extended opening or mouth 2, my invention comprises various formsof gravity looks A, B, C

and D for mounting in spaced relation along within the said guard and which are adapted and operable through gravity to engage and lockingly retain the guy wire or strand 7 or J the anchor rod 8, as the same are transversely lindrical lock block 9. having formed in its inserted into the guard 1 through its said mouth 2. As shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, the lock herefldesignated by'the letter A, in one preferred form includes a fiat,.circular or cy-' intended loweror skirt portion, a transverse wire opening or cable-way 10 extended through both faces of the block, and also the rightangularlyextended. lug sockets or recesses 11, the said lower part of the block passing loosely throughthe said lugs.

being thusquartered into four branches or webs 12 depending from the 'upper'shoulder 13. The shoulder 13 is pierced with a; screw socketl t, the same being tapped" down through into the cable-way. 10, as shown-at 15, thereby providing a threaded bore for the set or look. screw 16 as well as the said socket for the screw head.

A pair of elongated, rectangular lock lugs 17 are pivotally mounted upon pins 18, the

ends of the pins being rigidly anchored or set inthe opposed adjacent branches or webs 12 ateach sideof the cable-way 10, the said pins Or,

the arrangement might, of course, be reversed, the essential being that the lugs swing freely from side to side within their sockets. The described parts are sodimensioned and arranged that the lock lugs 17 may swing up into their sockets substantially clear. of the cable-way 10, as shown in Figure 5, or under the action of gravity may swing down and out transversely across the cableway, as shown in Figure 4. A number of these look blocks thus prepared and arranged may be mounted in spaced: relation. along and within the guard l, as shown at A, B,

C, D in Figures 1, 2 and 3, these figures being illustrative of the application and spaced mountings of any form of guy wire look as conventionally practised. In order to anchor the locks within the guard so that they will not slide or slip longitudinally out of place,

the margins 19 of the guard at the mouth 2' may be bent or turned sharply inwardly at anangle to form flanges 20 andseated in recesses 21 formed at theinner margins of the webs'12. The flanges -20 maythen becutthrough transversely at each side of the f block 9, that is to say, at the outer sides of e the depending webs 12, and bent still fur ther back across the outer faces of the said webs, as shown at 22, thereby locking the blocks against movement. I

In the use of theinvention in the form described, the guard soequippedwith a number of the prepared blocks 9, isfpassed .down over the lower portion of the guy wire 7 andthe.

upper portion of the anchor rod 8, as illustrated in Figure 1, the said wireentering through the mouth 2 and passingup into the cable-ways 10,of each block. In thisoperation, the strand of'wire will strike upon the inwardly and downwardly turned ends of the lock lugs 17, pushing them up and passing be-. tween them to the upperends of the lugs.

hese lugs thus being released, fall back down again below the guy wire or strand and prevent the retraction of the wire through the passage 10. "The several screws 16 are then turned down upon the upper side of the f guy wire or cable, thereby securely locking? same in place and anchoring the guard itself against any longitudinal slippage relative to the guy wire. a The outer lower corners 23 of the lugs 17 may be rounded off so asnot tointerfere with the adjacent guard wall. On

the other hand, the opposite corners 24: are e preferably left square so as to abut upon'the said guard wall when turned down and out,

whereby they are maintained in the proper set'positionfor receiving and engaging the guy wire. 7 e p If desired, a bearing stirrup 25 may be pro- .vided at the lower inner end of each screw 16,

the same resting upon the cable orguy wire 7 and the screw in, turn pressing upon the stirrup, thereby lessening the danger of damage to the wire. The stirrup 25includes up-' wardly turned fingers 26 havingv ends 27 7 turned inwardly and slidably seated within slots orgrooves 28 formed in the sidesof the longer than the lugs 17 ,whereby-gujy wiresv or anchor rods of various diameters may be engaged and locked. As will :appear from an inspection of Figure 10,.if the wire 7 or rod 8 isof relatively large diameter, then. as it is passed up through the cable-way 10 the set of shorter lugs 17 will first fall down :un-v der the wire orrod and serve the intended purpose of locking the element in place.

However, it the wireor rod be of relatively small diameter, .it willpass on up between the set of longer lugs 17 b,which will then fall out and down and serve to hold the wire or rod in .place against retraction. It is also evident, that additional sets of lugs, (not shown) may be provided, and of such length as maybe desired. The-Figures 9, 10 and 11 also illustrate a special torm of cap-block de signed for mounting at the lower end of a guard, or over the lower end of a guard and the attached'upper end of an anchor rod, as

shown in Figure 2. This cap-block 9b is es-.

sential-ly similar to the others; but is of larger diameter so as to provide marginal room for cutting or forming an annular groove 29 within which "the lower end of the guard may be seated, as shown at 30. in Figure 9, whereby means are provided for preventing the lateral spreading of the wallso the guard.

, In Figures 12 and 13, illustrating the form oflock referred toas C, the block 90 is formed with downwardly and inwardly directed lug sockets 110, reduced at the lower ends .so as to form shoulders 31., as shown. Lugs or fingers 17 0 areslidably mounted within these sockets and have heads 32 which impinge upon the shoulders -31-to limit their down-f ward movement. These lugs. through gravity normally fall to their lower andoutward- 1y extended position as shown in Figure 12;

will fall again to the-positionlof Figure l2, below the said guy wire,-thereby locking same against retraction. I a

In Figures 14, 15 and 16, illustrating the form oflock designated as D, hooks 17d are pivotally mounted by pins 18d upon the upper-side f-acesof the Zblock 9d, and thesechooks are directed inwardly towards -each'other and are so weighted at 33 xasto normally,

through gravity, fall down across the cablek way 10d-ateachside of the block. The books are so formed :and curved inwardly at their lower margin'swhowever that when in their said normal position under "the influence zof gravity and before the insertion of the guy wire, their said lower margins will present an inverted :V-shaped formation towards the the heoks 17d, as shown in Figure 15. After the wire is passed fully up into the cableway 10d, however, the hooks will fall back to normal position sand will then-lie under the wire, and prevent its retraction, in manner similar to the othe'r arrangements shown;

If desired, =various forms of springs may be mounted in association with theselveral form of "lock lugs, zfingers and hooks above referred to, for the purpose of assisting 5 gravity or in lieu of gravity, for operating said elements. As illustrating this feature,

corporated and used in connection with the several embodiments of m-yinvention as :here shown, or any modification thereof; as for instance, the lock-screws 16 and the :bearing stirrups as shown in several ofr-the figures.

And while I have herein setforth and described certain preferredembodimerits and forms of my invention, together with certain structural details, I do not hold myself to be limited to these specificforms or details of structure, but may vary the same as-desired,

not departing from-the spirit of :the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A gravitycontrol lock for mounting a tubular form of ,-guard upon a guy strand,

the guardhaving a longitudinal opening along one side, the said lock. comprising :a block seated within theguard and having :a cable-way opening out through one margin in alignmentwith the guard opening-, and looking. members movably' supported upon the .block,the latter being formed to accommodate the same, the said lockingmembers being normally movable "by gravity .athwart the saidcable-way, and being formedzat their lower margins so as to open apart under the pressure of the entering :guy strand, and at their upper margins "soas ito :lockingly hold 7 theentered :guy strand against retraction.

.2. ,A lock tor fastening a tubular guard upon .a guy strand or the'like, the saidguard having a longitudinal opening along one side whereby it, is set over the strand, the said. block comprising a block seatedfwithin the guard and having an. opening aligned with the open-ingot :thezguardand through which the strand is passed, and locking elements upon the block formed and arranged to spread asunder under the transverse movement of the strand'into the opening of the block; andto fallback again by gravity beneath the strand after the latter is moved fully into place. 1 3, A lock-for mounting a tubular guard upon aguy strand or the like, the. said guard having a .longitudinally extended opening through and along one side, the said lock comprisinga block seated within" the guard and having an opening aligned with the opening of the guard, and gravity-controlled looking elements .on .theblock so formed and mounted as to open under the pressure of the guy strandto admit the latter transversely into the said opening of the block, and tofall back-under the strand for lockingly holding the same in place. I I I A gravity controlled lock for mounting atubular guard upon a guy strand,.the said guard having a longitudinal opening along one side, thersaid lock comprising a block seated within theguard and having an openmg therethrough allgned'and communicating with the guard opening, and locking members-upon the block adapted through gravity.

' to close. towards one another over the said block openlng, theasald members beingso formed at their under sides as to spread apart under the pressure of the strand for admitf ting same within the block opening to a position above the said'lockingmembers; s 5. A gravity controlled lock for mounting a-tubular form of guard upon a guy strand, a guard having. a longitudinal opening along one side, the said lock comprising a block seated within the. guard and having a cable way: formed therethrough registering with the guard opening, and gravity locking members supported upont-he block, the latter being formed to accommodate the "same, the said gravity locking members-being sogformed g andmounted as to move towards one another by gravitydnto' co-operative strand locking positions over the said cable-way, and being so, shapedfat their lower margins as to be spread apart under the pressure of the-jentering guy strand for admitting the same to a position at the upper side of the said lock-;

ingmembers, the latter being so formed at their upper sides as to prevent-the retraction of theentered strand. 6. A'gravity controlled lock for mounting a tubular guard upon a guy strand, the-guard having a longitudinally extended slotelike opening through its proposed-lower side, the said-lock comprising ablock seated within theguard and having a cable-way opening out-through its proposed lower margin in alignment with the guard opening, the said block having lug sockets formed laterally of its cable way, and. elongated gravity flugs pivotally mounted at their lower ends within said sockets and arranged to fallby grav ing a tubular guard upon aguy'strand, the

guard having a longitudinally extended slot like opening through its proposed lower side-,-

the said lock comprising a block seated with in the guard and having a cable-way'opening out through its proposed lower margin in alignment with the guard opening, the said block having lug sockets formedlaterally of'its cable-way, and aplurality of elongated gravity lugs pivotally mounted at "oneendwithin the lower portions of the lug sockets and arranged'to fall by gravity centrally athwartthesaid cable-way to an-upwardly and inwardly inclined posit-ion.

8. A' gravity controlled lock for mounting a tubular guard upon a guy strand, the guard having a longitudinally "extended opening through its proposed lower side, the

said lock comprising 'a'block'sea'ted within the guard and having-a cable-way opening out through its proposed "lower side in align ment with the guard 0pening, the said block beingrecessed' laterally of the said cable'- way'to form lug sockets, and a plurality of elongated gravity lugs of unequal. lengths vertically and pivotally mounted atone end within the lower portions of the lug sockets, v

the same being arranged to fall by gravity at their upper ends into the formation of an inverted V centrally athwart the said cablewa yfi R V i 9. A- "gravity controlled lock forniounting a tubular guard upon a guy strand, the guard having a longitudinally extended opening through its proposed lower side, the said lock comprising a block seated within the guard and having a cable-way opening out through its proposed lower-margin in' alignment with the guard opening, the said block being formed with downwardly "and inwardly directed lug sockets arranged lat erally of the saidcable-way, and lugs slid ably-mountedwithin the said socketsand adapted normally to slidably fall-by gravity to a position wherein theirlowerends will project out centrally athwart-the said cable,

opening, in a V-shaped formatiom Q 310JA gravity controlledilock for mounting a tubular guard upon a guy strand,- the guard having a longitudinally extended opening through its proposed lower side, the

said lock comprising-a block seated-within the guard and having a cable wa'y opening out through its proposed lower; margin in alignment with the guard opening, and gravity hooks pivotally mounted upon the'up-per side faces of the block, the' said'hooks being turned towards" each other'and formed and arranged-to'normally through gravity fall.-

down athwart the cable-Way at each side of the block, the hooks being soformedand curved inwardly at their lower margins thatwhen in their said normal positions under the influence of gravity their said lower margins will present an inverted V-shaped formation towards the transverse insertion of the guy wire. 7

11. In combination, a tubular guystrand guard having a longitudinally extended opening through one side, the margins of the. guard at the opening being turned inwardly, and a guy strand supporting block seated within the said guard, the said inturned mar gins of the guard being pinched athwart the faces of the block at each side thereof, to lock the same against longitudinal movement within the guard. 7

12. In combination, a tubular guy strand guard having a longitudinally extended opening through one side, and a guy strand supporting block seatedupon an end of the guard, the margin of the block being grooved to engage the said end, whereby the guard is prevented from spreading asunder at its said openln 13. A gravity control lock for mounting a guard upon a guy strand, the said lock comprising a supporting element mounted upon the guard and having a cable-Way opening out through one margin and locking members movably supported upon the element and adapted by gravity to lockingly engage the guy strand as it passes transversely into the said cable-way.

14. A gravity control lock for mounting a guard upon a guy strand, the said lock com prising a supporting element mounted upon the guard and having a cable-way opening out through one margin and locking mem- 1 bers movably supported upon the element and adapted by gravity to lockingly engage the guy strand as it passes transversely into 7 3 the said cable-way, and means such as springs for assisting the action of gravity in the operation of the said locking members.

15. A gravity control lock for mounting a guard upon a guy strand, the said lock comprising a supporting element mounted upon the guard and having a cable-way opening out therethrough, locking members movably supported upon the element and formed and arranged to lockingly engage the guy strand under the action of gravity as the strand is passed transversely into the said cable-way, and additional co-operative locking means arranged oppositely [to the said locking members.

16. A gravity control lock for mounting a V guard upon a guy strand, the said lock comprising a supporting element mounted upon the guardand having a cable-way opening out therethrough, and a plurality of elongated gravity lugs pivotally mounted at one end upon the supporting element, the lugs being so formed, arranged and mounted as to admit the transverse insertion of the strand into the cable-Way past and between the lugs, and thereafter to prevent the retraction of the guy strand reversely out through the cable-way.

17. A gravity control lock for mounting a guard upon a guy strand, the said lock comprising a supporting element mounted upon I the guard andhavlng a cable-way opening out therethrough, and lugs slidably mounted I upon the supporting element and adapted normally to slidably fall by gravity to a position wherein their'lower ends will projec out athwart the said cable-way. j

' 18. A gravity control lockfor mounting a guard upon a guy strand, the said lock comprising a supporting elementmounted upon the guard-and having acable-way opening out therethrough, and gravity hooks pivotally mounted upon the supporting element, the said hooks being turned towards each other and formed'and arranged to normally through gravity fall athwart the cable-way of the said supportingelement, the hooks be- 7 ing so-formed and curved inwardly at their lower margins that when in their said normal positions under the influence of gravity, 1 their said lower margins will'present an in verted V-shaped formation towards the transverse insertion of the guy strand for admitting the guy strand into the cable-way.

, In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JASPER BLACKBURN.

nos 

